Ambulatory medical care for the elderly in Switzerland.
Data from a study on ambulatory medical care in two Swiss cantons are used to describe the characteristics of consultations delivered to patients 65 years old and over. The differences with younger patients are presented. The elderly generally suffer from different diseases, and their problems are often chronic. Primary care concerns three-quarters of visits. Medical problems are very frequent and important among this population. It is important to know their specific needs in order to adapt medical practice to them and to be aware of the complexity of the aging process in industrialized societies.
Jeangros
C
C
University Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Hausser
D
D
Martin
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology